Kansas City-Style Baby Back Ribs

Ingredients for Kansas City-Style Baby Back Ribs

• 900g racks baby back pork ribs

• 50g plus 70g (packed) light or dark brown sugar, divided

• 50g chilli powder

• 3 tablespoons sweet paprika

• 1 tablespoon salt

• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

• 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper

• 350ml chopped onion

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

• 6 garlic cloves, finely chopped

• 350ml ketchup

• 120ml cider vinegar

• 80ml yellow (ballpark) mustard

• 60ml molasses (not blackstrap)

• 45ml Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon hot sauce, or to taste

• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke (optional)

How to make Kansas City-Style Baby Back Ribs

Line a large heavy rimmed baking sheet with foil and put rib racks side by side in pan.

In a bowl, whisk together 50g brown sugar, chilli powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and cayenne and rub onto both sides of racks. Let ribs stand, meaty sides up, at room temperature, 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 325°. Cover pan tightly with foil and bake ribs 1 1/2 hours.

Make sauce while ribs bake: Cook onion in oil in a 3-4-quart heavy pot over medium-low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until tender, 10-15 minutes. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients, including remaining 70g brown sugar, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Cool sauce slightly and purée in a food processor. Set aside 240ml sauce for serving.

Remove foil cover and turn racks over so bone ends curve up, then baste ribs with pan juices and spread generously with some sauce. Continue to bake, uncovered, 30 minutes. Turn racks over, then baste again with pan juices and top generously with more sauce. Continue to bake until tender when pierced with a small knife, 30-45 minutes.

Grill ribs, meaty sides up, 4"-6" inches from heat, until browned, 2-3 minutes. Serve with reserved sauce.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.